My life on The Great lakes
I escaped the land at age 14 to sail the Inland Seas
As a stoker on the Lake Erie freighter, Alex Lesilee
On course from an Ohio port for the Canada shore
A raging hell flooded our ship - my 1st and last I swore
Soon daring to sail out again, I stowed my gear below
The decks of 12 more ships, above all the deep unknown
Of lost crews and wrecks, out from Great Lake ports
But I survived adventurous times, by 'wily' seaman's luck?
{ships exact name, Alexander Leslie}
{c} Harry J. Dean